Ok, so I just read on the Nirvana sight under grow guide section that a rise of 500 watts form the year before can get you a knock at your door. I am running a 400 HPS and the fans with it. I thought that they only really took a notice if it was a huge power use in a house. I live in a 1800 sf house. Does anyone have any idea if this is something to worry about???

i wouldnt i had a 400 in a 1400 sf single story no probs..

now i am 4 x 1000w 1900sf two story and i havent had any intrusions, although i am in a nice (wow) neighborhood with a security gate. well worth the extra $$.

NO NOSY FOLKS JUST OLD PPL I LOVE IT.

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"All stupid people should be shot in the head. Thin the heard people its called nature" -adam corolla

http://www.rollitup.org/grow-journal...xperiment.html

IF you get a knock, just tell them that you've been using an old refridg in your garage, and it was an energy hog, so you got rid of it. Seriously, unless you are using all 1800 sq. ft. to set up a grow op, I wouldn't worry too much. Just make sure you keep quite about your activities, if you know what I mean...

Nelson

dank...like your avatar, man! Too cool...

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"Stickum' Christ pop-um'!!"

Does (my power company) have a privacy policy?
1. (my electric company) DOES have a privacy policy which is specifically designed to protect our customers and their details. We are also bound by the aforementioned Data Protection Act of 1998.

If so, does it state that (my power company) will not
divulge customer information (power usage, personal information, etc.)
to any outside party without a proper warrant?

2. NO personal data will be divulged to anyone outside of our organisation without the specific permission of the Customer; with a warrant; or a specific order from a Government Agency, again as covered by the Data Protection Act of 1998. If you read this it specifically states (under the Subject Access Request section) that any personal data may only be retrieved
for the person it pertains to or a Government Agency (such as the Police) who occasionally request such data.

If not, does (my power company) voluntarily report
"abnormal" power usage to law enforcement agencies without provocation?

3. I can assure you that (my electric company) DOES NOT, under any circumstances, monitor and report our 6 Million customers power consumption for anything other than OUR business requirements (we are busy enough as it is!).

For the VERY VERY limited occasions/situations when we are asked to supply information to a Government agency we only respond to the questions asked, most likely examples being: tracing missing persons or deducing the occupier of a house in a specific time period in Rent disputes.

There is more information readily available on (my electric companies website) or alternatively the OFGEM web site (The Office of Gas & Electricity Markets) Ofgem HOME the government sponsored watchdog for the Utilities industry may offer you more information.

More on power consumption and privacy rights:

(Ganja Lawyer)
....the Privacy Act and 4th Amendment protects utility companies from LEO searches w/o probable cause. (in the US) Except I had heard in some places utility records are PUBLIC- giving LEO (and everybody else) access...
if such matters WERE available to the general public then it would also be available to LEO (w/o a warrant).

(Lothar)
Unlike the US, Canadian hydro companies are bound by a contractural privacy agreement not to disclose anything to the police without a warrant. Meter readers who try and rat out suspicious usage houses can be fired for this.

They don't "red flag" anyone unless the usage is suddenly jumped up by like 300% - in that case, they phone you to make sure you know about it.

They will also contact you if you suddenly start using dangerous amounts of electricity, as though you have reached the 85%+ of your house\'s rated amperage.

Other than that, they don't care.

As for warrants, the police must obtain a warrant for the electrical usage first, and then a warrant for your house, but the Supreme Court ruled long ago that even electrical usage of 3-400% compared to similar dwellings in the neighborhood is "suspicious only\" and not grounds to search.
Police….. are currently trying to coordinate with the hydro companies, insurance companies …. are mainly concerned with hydro theft.

The hydro companies are often slow to detect the theft, and that's why you can get away with it for a year or so. They are hoping to get them on board to investigate suspicious activities like local power drains sooner, and they are happy to do this since hydro theft is such an expense and hassle.

(Power theft) ….is a crime and they will report that to their inspectors if they can't get a reasonable explanation, or at least have you acknowledge that you are now actually using the power.

Sudden jumps in (large) power usage might be flagged, also sudden reductions in power...Raising usage gradually is easy and you might as well just to be safe.

My electric bill this month is just over 1000.00 I have electic heat but no knocks or interest in 8 months just pay cash on time everytime.

I've got 200 amp service in a 2000sf house. I'm only running a couple of CFls right now but I plan to hook up a 400 hps very soon. I'm really not worried about it. Right now my bill ranges from $50-90, and I usually don't even know why. I was using a space heater a couple of months ago, I didn't use it at all last month and my bill went up $20. I had electric hot water in my last place and the bill was about $60+ higher all the time. I'm really not worried about anything since that 400w hps and an air conditioner is probably as far as I'm going to go here.
I also read somewhere that the power company can detect an increase in power usage and a decline when your lights are turning on and off. I really don't understand how. I've got a meter outside, a guy comes around once a month and reads it, and that's it.

I question how anyone's bill could be over $1000 in one month. Mine has never been over $100.

What does this mean "I have electic heat but no knocks or interest in 8 months"?

that had to be a typo $1000 is crazy

I was wondering that myself. When I was growing in my old place, it was around $140, but that was with electric hot water, which was probably over 30% of the bill. If I fully loaded every circuit in this house 24/7 I don't think I'd hit $1000.

ahhh, electric heat... very expensive, but I don't think that much.